Mounting Device for a Fitting Panel

ABSTRACT

A mounting device for a fitting panel has a base element ( 20 ) and at least one fluid connection element ( 50 ). The base element includes, at a front side, a device ( 21, 22 ) for fastening a fitting panel and, at a rear side, an at least substantially planar bearing surface, at least one through-opening ( 23 ) for a fastening device being arranged in the base element and extending from the rear side of the base element to the front side of the base element, in such a way that a fastening device may be passed through the base element at the at least one through-opening. The fluid connection element includes a throughflow channel ( 51 ) and a pressing surface ( 53 ), wherein the pressing surface is dimensioned such that at least its maximum entire cross-sectional extension is greater than at least one cross-sectional extension of the through-opening, and wherein the at least one through-opening is provided and configured such that a stub ( 52 ) of the fluid connection element may be passed, as a fastening device, through the base element at at least two different positions on the base element.

This application is a Continuation of, and claims priority under 35U.S.C. § 120 to, International Application No. PCT/EP2016/063222, filed9 Jun. 2016, and claims priority therethrough under 35 U.S.C. § § 119,365 to European App. Nos. 15171958.0, filed 12 Jun. 2015, and15181531.3, filed 19 Aug. 2015, the entireties of which are incorporatedby reference herein.

BACKGROUND Field of Endeavor

The present disclosure relates to a mounting device for a fitting panel.It also relates to a fitting unit having a mounting device of the statedkind, a base element for a mounting device, a fluid connection element,and a method for mounting a fitting unit.

Brief Description of the Related Art

Permanently installed fitting units for the connection of fluids such asgases or liquids offer the advantage of high robustness. It is inindustrial or public and semi-public areas that these advantages makethemselves felt. Thus, fittings, for example in sanitary facilities, maybe provided without parts that can be accessed or manipulated fromoutside.

It is desirable to simplify the mounting of such fitting units. By wayof example, when dowel holes are drilled a lot of dirt arises, care andaccuracy are required, and existing structures such as tiles areirreversibly damaged. US 2005/0044623 proposes a mounting device for ashower panel, wherein, on the one hand, the wall mounting takes placeusing the existing pipe connectors in the wall, and, on the other, asuction cup is used for additional support and fixing. Thus, by means ofthe device proposed there, a shower panel may be fastened to the wallwithout drill-holes. CN 103343557 also discloses a fitting unit where afitting panel is fastened to the existing pipe connectors in the wall.

A disadvantage, however, is seen in the fact that, when the fittingunits are, for example, connected to pre-existing pipe connectors in awall, the height of a fitting is predetermined. By way of example, itmay be that a shower head comes to rest higher or lower than desired.This is associated with reduced convenience and efficiency. The sameapplies, of course, to fitting panels comprising water taps, mixer taps,washbasins, and the like.

The same may be said if, by way of example, gas connectors are to beprovided in a wall at an ergonomic and/or operationally convenientposition based on existing pipe connectors.

The fitting units known from the state of the art, which are fastened toa wall using the existing pipe connectors, thus have the disadvantage oflow flexibility as regards the arrangement of the fittings if the pipeconnectors in the wall are at a predetermined position. Therefore, to beable to enjoy the advantages, the stated disadvantages must be accepted,or a dedicated fitting panel be made for each application.

SUMMARY

A mounting device for a fitting panel is described here, which offersadvantages in this regard. The mounting device is designed in such a waythat, on the one hand, it may be fastened to the wall with no additionaldrilling, i.e., using existing pipe connectors as fastening points,while, on the other, the desired flexibility with regard to thearrangement of the fittings is ensured. According to a further aspect, afitting panel or a fitting unit may be mounted particularly easily andquickly, and thus cost-effectively, by the mounting device described. Afluid connection element is also described, which at the same timeserves to fasten the mounting device to the wall or another surface,such that the fastening may take place directly to an existing pipeconnector in the wall. The fluid connection element described isparticularly easy to handle. It also has the advantage of flexiblypositioning the connector for the fittings as required.

Furthermore, a method is described for mounting a fitting unit using themounting device described.

Further effects and advantages of the objects described here, whether ornot expressly stated, become apparent in the light of the presentdisclosure.

This is achieved by a mounting device as described herein.

Accordingly, a mounting device for a fitting panel is disclosed, whichmounting device comprises a base element and at least one fluidconnection element, wherein the base element comprises, at a front side,means for fastening a fitting panel and, at a rear side, an at leastsubstantially planar bearing surface. In the base element at least onethrough-opening for a fastening means is provided, extending from therear side of the base element, in particular from the bearing surface,to the front side of the base element, in such a way that a fasteningmeans may be passed through the base element at the at least onethrough-opening or pass-through opening. The fluid connection elementcomprises a throughflow channel and a pressing surface, wherein thethroughflow channel intersects a plane of the pressing surface andwherein the pressing surface is dimensioned such that at least itsmaximum entire cross-sectional extension is greater than at least onecross-sectional extension of the through-opening. Here, the entirecross-sectional extension is understood as an “overall” dimension. Theentire cross-sectional extension is, accordingly, a dimension across theouter edges of the pressing surface. In the case of, by way of example,an annular pressing surface, the entire cross-sectional extension doesnot mean the width of the ring between an external radius and aninternal radius, but the outer diameter. Accordingly, at least thesmallest cross-sectional extension of the at least one through-openingis smaller than the stated cross-sectional extension of the pressingsurface. Furthermore, the fluid connection element comprises a stub,extending from the plane of the pressing surface and projecting from thelatter. The throughflow channel extends through the stub. In particular,the stub generally has a circular cylindrical form or, in otherembodiments, is formed generally as a cone, truncated cone, with acircular cross-section, wherein the cone tapers towards the free end ofthe stub. Generally cylindrical or generally conical in this connectionmeans, of course, that chamfers or flutes or other structures, such as athread, may be provided on the outer circumference of the stub, as longas the envelope of the contour has a cylindrical or conical form. On anaxial end of the stub, a cross-sectional expansion is formed, whereby aradial step of the fluid connection element is formed, which also pointstowards the free end of the stub and forms the pressing surface. Furtherpossible exemplary embodiments of the fluid connection element are setforth below. The at least one through-opening is configured and providedin such a way that the stub may be passed, as a fastening device,through the base element at at least two different positions on the baseelement. In other words, the dimensions of the at least onethrough-opening and the fluid connection element are matched to oneanother in such a way that, while the stub fits through the at least onethrough-opening at at least two positions on the base element, thepressing surface does not, and so, with the stub in the pass-throughposition, may rest on an edge of the through-opening. In the following,these positions, at which the stub may be passed through the baseelement, are also referred to as fastening positions. The at least onethrough-opening is conveniently configured and provided in such a waythat there are at least two possible fastening positions, with adistance to one another of 100 mm or less. In particular, in certainembodiments of the object described, there are at least two fasteningpositions, with a distance of 150 mm or more, 200 mm or more, and/or 250mm or more.

The mounting device is further designed in such a way, or the at leastone through-opening is configured and provided in such a way that theselection of possible fastening positions may take place steplessly orin the smallest possible steps. Thus, it may be provided that thedistance between two possible fastening positions is 100 mm or less, inparticular 80 mm or less, and more particularly 50 mm or less.

The at least one through-opening is further configured and provided insuch a way that at least three possible fastening positions arepossible, and, in particular, at least five possible fastening positionsare provided.

Regarding the design of the fluid connection element with the stub, itshould be noted that, according to certain embodiments of the objectdescribed here, the fluid connection element is formed in one piece,integrally with the stub. Here, in one piece means either that the fluidconnection element is manufactured with the stub seamlessly from oneblank, or that the fluid connection element is permanently joined, forexample by soldering or welding, with the stub. In other embodiments,the fluid connection element includes a pressing element and a bolt, inparticular with a hollow bore, on which the stub is formed, which arejoined in such a way that they may be detached, in particular aredetachable without being destroyed. By way of example, the bolt may bescrewed into the pressing element. It is understood that, with theseembodiments, a suitable seal between the bolt and the pressing elementmust be ensured, so that no fluid leakage from the throughflow channelvia the joint between the bolt and the pressing element can occur. Inparticular, the pressure surface is formed on an end face of thepressing element surrounding the bolt.

The stub is shaped and designed in such a way that, either directly orwith an intermediately provided spacer or adapter, such as for examplethe connection socket described below, fluid communication with a pipewall connector may be provided for. In certain embodiments, an externalthread is formed on the stub, in such a way that the fluid connectionelement including the stub includes an external thread on the stub.

In certain embodiments of the object described, the fastening positionsare selectable steplessly, for example by arranging a slotted hole,within which the fastening position may be selected. In otherembodiments of the object described, the fastening positions aredetermined incrementally, for example by providing discretethrough-openings. In addition, there are embodiments and hybrids ofboth, in which, for example, a number of discrete slotted holes areprovided. A more detailed description of this is provided below and inthe exemplary embodiments.

The initial situation in which the present object is used is, inparticular, as follows: A fitting panel is intended to be fastened to asurface, for example to a wall, in such a way that a fitting of thefitting panel comes to rest at a defined position. Here, a fasteningpoint is predetermined on the surface on which mounting is to takeplace. The surface may, for example, be a surface of an upright wall andthe fastening point may be a pipe connector in the wall. The disclosedmounting device now allows the fastening position of the base element ofthe mounting device to be flexibly selected in such a way that, when thefitting panel is connected to the mounting device by means ofcorresponding fastening devices on the fitting panel and on the baseelement, the fitting comes to rest at the desired intended position.This has the advantage that existing fastening points on the surface maybe used without having to provide new fastening points. In particular, ascrew joint with the fastening point of the surface is provided at thedesired fastening position, in such a way that, when the screw joint istightened, the base element is pressed against the surface and may beconnected with the latter through friction.

By means of the mounting device described here and the mounting methodspecified further below it is accordingly possible to mount a particularfitting panel at a predefined fastening position on a surface and, inparticular, also in the case of a predefined position of a pipeconnector on the surface, to mount it in such a way that a desiredposition of the fittings provided on the fitting panel is achieved. Theposition of the fittings can be flexibly selected, but it is fixed oncemounting is completed. The fittings may, by way of example, be gasconnectors, shutoff devices, water taps, showerheads, and the like,wherein this list should in no way be considered exclusive. Here, themounting may be performed without new fastening points having to beprovided in the surface on which the fitting panel is intended to bearranged. For this purpose, as the fastening point, in particular, apipe connector is used, to which a fitting of the fitting panel isintended to be connected. This is enabled, on the one hand, by the factthat the at least one through-opening on the base element is designed insuch a way that at least two fastening positions are provided, and, onthe other, by the fact that the fluid connection element including thepressing surface is designed in such a way that, while providing forfluid communication with the pipe connector, it also contributes to thefastening of the base element to the surface.

The device described and the method described below therefore allow, byway of example, a fitting provided on a fitting panel to be arranged ona wall at a desired height corresponding to a predetermined position ofa water connector, without having to provide new fastening points in thewall. Another example enables connection points for gases accessible toa user to be arranged at easily accessible points in the case ofpredetermined wall connectors. This can be advantageous, for example inindustrial applications, but, for another instance, also in hospitals.

Accordingly, the fastening point is particularly conveniently selectedat a location where a pipe connector is provided on the surface. Here,the pipe connector may be positioned within a structure on which thesurface is provided, or the pipe connector may protrude from thisstructure on the side of that surface. The pipe connector may be aconnector of a supply line for a gaseous or liquid medium, for example awater connector. The pipe connector, however, may similarly be aconnector of a return line, for example a sewage pipe. That structureis, by way of example, a wall. If the pipe connector is positionedwithin the structure, the base element is placed on the surface in sucha way that a through-opening at the desired position on the base elementcoincides with the location of the surface where the pipe connector isprovided. The fluid connection element includes a stub, which extendsfrom the pressing surface and in the interior of which a part of thethroughflow channel of the fluid connection element is provided. Here,the stub, according to certain embodiments, comprises an externalthread, which corresponds to an internal thread, provided on the pipeconnector or on a spacer connected to the pipe connector. Here, thethrough-opening is dimensioned such that the stub may be passed throughthe through-opening. In this way, the stub serves as a fastening devicefor the base element. The stub of the fluid connection element isscrewed to the pipe connector, whereby the pressing surface comes torest on the edge of the through-opening. A suitable tightening torque ofthe screw joint fixes the base element on the surface. In certainembodiments, the fluid connection element comprises a pressing elementand a bolt, which are detachably joined or joinable with each other.Here, the stub is formed on the bolt. By way of example, the pressingelement comprises an internal flow channel, extending through thepressing surface. In this channel, by way of example, an internal threadis formed. The bolt comprises a corresponding external thread, in such away that the bolt, along a part of its axial extension, may be screwedinto the pressing element, with the stub projecting. It is thus possibleto screw the stub or the bolt of the fluid connection element solely tothe pipe connector, to position the base element by means of the bolt,wherein the bolt then protrudes through the through-opening, and then tojoin, in particular screw, the pressing element with the bolt, on whichthe stub is formed. By appropriate tightening of the joint, the baseelement is fixed on the surface in the said manner. In doing so, fluidcommunication between the pipe connector and the throughflow channel inthe fluid connection element is provided for in each case. Here, theconnection or screw joint of the fluid connection element with the pipeconnector may, on the one hand, be provided directly, for example bydirect screwing, in particular screwing in, of the stub to or into thepipe connector, or may comprise an intermediately provided element, forexample a connection socket, as described in more detail below.

With a suitable design of the base element of the mounting device, thelatter may also be used if a number of, in particular two, pipeconnectors are present. These may, for example, be connectors for hotand cold water, but also connectors for different gases or liquids.

Accordingly, a method is also disclosed for mounting a fitting unit on asurface. The fitting unit comprises a mounting device according to thepresent disclosure, and a fitting panel having means by which thefitting panel may be fastened to corresponding means of the baseplate ofthe mounting device, and at least one fitting. This method comprisesselecting a desired position of a fitting, determining the position of apipe connector on the surface, based on the distance between thepositions, determining the required fastening position that the pipeconnector must have on the base element so that the fitting achieves thedesired position, placing the base element, by its rear side, on thesurface, in such a way that the pipe connector coincides with athrough-opening of the base element at the required fastening position,and connecting, in particular screwing, the fluid connection element tothe pipe connector from the front side of the base element.

A more specific case involves a method for mounting a fitting unit on anupright surface, comprising selecting a desired height of a fitting,determining the height of a pipe connector on the upright surface, fromthe height difference, determining the required position that the pipeconnector must have on the base element so that the fitting achieves thedesired height, placing the base element, by its rear side, on theupright surface, in such a way that the pipe connector coincides with athrough-opening of the base element at the required position, andconnecting, in particular screwing, the fluid connection element to thepipe connector from the front side of the base element.

By appropriate tightening of the screw joint, the base element may beconnected through friction with the surface to which the fitting unit isfastened in any of said mounting methods.

Self-evidently, a plurality, in particular two, pipe connectors may alsobe present, each of which is connected to a fluid connection element insaid manner.

The method may also comprise connecting a fluid connector of the fittingto a fluid connector provided on a fluid connection element. Here, inparticular, flexible connection elements, for example hoses, may beused. Furthermore, the method may comprise, in particular once thenecessary fluid communications have been provided for, connecting thefitting panel by connecting corresponding fastening means on the baseelement of the mounting device and the fitting panel.

The base element has, in particular, a longitudinal extension and atransversal extension, wherein the longitudinal extension is greaterthan the transversal extension. According to a further aspect of thepresent disclosure, the at least one through-opening is provided in sucha way that the various fastening positions are arranged in the directionof the longitudinal extension of the base element.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the at leastone through-opening comprises at least one slotted hole, or is a slottedhole. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that thefastening positions may be selected continuously and steplessly withinthe slotted hole. Here, the slotted hole is provided in exemplaryembodiments in such a way that the longitudinal axis of the slotted holeor slotted holes runs in the direction of the longitudinal extension ofthe base element. According to a further aspect of the presentdisclosure, a single slotted hole is provided, which covers the entireadjusting range within which the fastening positions may be selected,and wherein the longitudinal extension of the slotted hole is at leastas great as the planned adjusting range, plus the diameter of afastening element to be passed through the slotted hole. Thus, thefastening positions may be selected steplessly and continuously acrossthe entire possible adjusting range. In another embodiment, a pluralityof slotted holes are provided one after another along their parallel oridentical longitudinal axes. In this way, a fastening position may beselected on the base element by area, continuously and steplessly.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the mounting device, atleast two slotted holes are provided, the longitudinal axes of which arearranged in parallel. If these are provided offset to one another in thedirection of their transversal axis, this allows the arrangement of thebase element also in the case where a plurality of pipe connectors arepresent on the surface to which the base element is intended to beattached.

According to a further aspect, the mounting device may comprise at leasttwo individual through-openings, arranged in a row. The through-openingsare, in particular, arranged along a straight line. Here, the distancebetween adjacent through-openings, measured between the opposing edgesof two adjacent openings, is less than five times the cross-sectionaldimension of a through-opening, measured at right angles to theorientation of said row or to the straight line. In more specificembodiments, that distance is less than three times, less than twice,less than once, less than half, or less than one third of saidcross-sectional dimension, and more particularly a quarter or less thansaid cross-sectional dimension. In further exemplary embodiments,adjacent through-openings overlap. The provision of individualpass-through openings, on the one hand, has the disadvantage that theselection of the fastening position cannot take place steplessly orcompletely steplessly.

Here, the distances at which the fastening position may be selected,are, inter alia, determined by the abovementioned distances of thethrough-openings. It may therefore be advantageous to select thesedistances to be as small as possible, to allow for greater flexibilityin the arrangement of the base element. On the other hand, the provisionof individual pass-through openings offers an advantage when mountingthe base element, in particular on an upright surface. In this case, thefastening position has already been secured when the stub is passedthrough the pass-through opening and anchored to the surface, without aconnection through friction between the base element and the uprightsurface having to be provided first. A fitter may therefore initiallysuspend the base element in the corresponding fastening position on theupright surface in the abovementioned manner, and then has both handsfree in order to, by way of example, pick up a tool with which he, byway of example, can tighten a screw joint. In this regard, it may beconvenient if the through-openings are at least approximately circularopenings accommodating the stub with little play. Thus, for example,individual openings with a diameter in the range of 23 to 25 millimetersmay be provided. Other diameters are, of course, similarly possible inthe context of the present disclosure. These may be convenientlyselected in such a way that the stub of the fluid connection element,which has a certain external diameter, may be passed through smoothly,but with only little play.

This means, a mounting device of the stated kind is also disclosed wherethe through-openings comprise, or are, openings with at least anapproximately circular cross-section.

Here, the orientation of the row or straight line determines thedirection along which the various fastening positions may be selected.Here, according to an even more specific aspect of the mounting device,the row or straight line extends along a transversal extension or alongitudinal extension of the base element.

In further embodiments, at least two parallel rows of openings areprovided. Here, in particular, the mutual spacings of the openings inboth rows are identical. This allows the mounting device to also beflexibly used where more than two pipe connectors are present andintended to be used. Here, it may be convenient if the through-openingsin one of these rows are dimensioned such that a fastening element isaccommodated in each direction with only little play, as explainedabove, while the through-openings in the other row or rows are designedin such a way that generally greater play possible. In this way,tolerances in the mutual arrangement of the pipe connectors may becompensated for.

The mounting device may also comprise a connection socket. Thisconnection socket comprises a first thread, suitable and provided forscrewing to a pipe connector, for example a predetermined wall connectorprovided onsite. The connection socket also comprises a second thread,which corresponds to a thread of the fluid connection element, in such away that the stub of the fluid connection element may be screwed to theconnection socket by means of the second thread. Here, on the connectionsocket and/or on the fluid connection element, in particular, a flutemay be provided, provided and arranged in such a way as to accommodatean O-ring for sealing between the connection socket and the fluidconnection element. The threads may be provided as internal and/orexternal threads. In particular, one of the threads may be realized asan internal thread, and the other said thread may be realized as anexternal thread. In an exemplary embodiment, the connection socketcomprises an external thread that is provided in order to be screwedinto an internal thread of the wall connector, and an internal threadwhich corresponds to an external thread on the stub of the fluidconnection element.

The method described above for mounting a fitting unit also comprises inthis case screwing the connection socket to the pipe connector. In doingso, the threaded connection between the pipe connector and theconnection socket may be sealed by means of a suitable sealing material,for example with hemp. Other seal arrangements and materials are, ofcourse, possible. The fluid connection element is screwed to the secondthread of the connection socket. This means, the fluid connectionelement is connected or screwed indirectly to the pipe connector fromthe front side of the base element.

Furthermore, an exemplary mounting device is described where at leastone row of slotted holes is provided, the longitudinal axes of which runat least approximately at right angles or parallel to the orientation ofthe row.

A fitting unit is also disclosed, comprising a mounting device of thetype described and a fitting panel. Here, the fitting panel comprisesmeans by which the fitting panel is may be fastened to correspondingmeans of the baseplate of the mounting device, and also comprises atleast one fitting including a fluid connector. The fitting unit furthercomprises flexible pipes for connecting the fluid connector of thefitting to a fluid connector provided on a fluid connection element. Theflexible pipes allow this connection to also be provided when therelative positions of a fitting and a fluid connection element are notknown in advance, as is the case with the application of the objectsdescribed here. Since the fluid connection element at the same timeserves to fasten the base element to a surface, it comes to rest at theflexibly selected fastening position on the base element in each case,whereby the distance between the fluid connection element and the fluidconnector of the fitting is variable. This is possible thanks to theflexible pipes. Here, ends of the flexible pipes and the connectionpoints on the fluid connection element and/or on the fitting may beequipped with quick-action couplings.

A base element for a mounting device is also described, having thefeatures described above in relation to a base element.

In the following, an embodiment of a fluid connection element isdescribed in more detail, which simultaneously serves to attach the baseelement to a surface. A fluid connection element is basically knownfrom, by way of example, DE 20 2011 102 730 U1 (incorporated byreference herein). The fluid connection element described here has afirst and a second end face, between which an axial extension isdefined. From the first end face, a first channel running in thedirection of the axial extension is provided within the fluid connectionelement. The fluid connection element, on an outer side, furthermorecomprises a flute running transversally to the axial extension anddelimited by two axial delimiting walls. The flute extends, in length,in particular at least over part of the circumference of the fluidconnection element, and may, in particular, be realized as a fullycircumferential flute. Here, the cross-section around which saidcircumference extends, may be circular but, in principle, also haveother, for example polygonal, forms. In certain embodiments, the fluidconnection element comprises two cylindrical rims, on which the axialdelimiting walls of the flute are provided and between which the fluteis provided. A second channel extends from the flute into the fluidconnection element. The second channel is in fluid communication withthe first channel within the fluid connection element, in such a waythat the first channel and the second channel together form athroughflow channel which connects the first end face with the flute.The fluid connection element comprises a stub, extending from the firstend face towards the second end face. The first channel extends throughthe stub. At an axial end of the stub and towards the second end face, across-sectional expansion is provided, whereby a radial step with afront face is formed, wherein said front face, formed by the radialstep, forms the pressing surface of the fluid connection element. Theradial step is a transition to a larger cross-section than that of thestub. It is, accordingly, implicit that the pressing surface pointstowards the first end face or to the free end of the stub. It willlikewise be implicit to a person skilled in the art that the radial stepmust have sufficiently large dimensions to serve as a pressing surface;the technical knowledge of a person skilled in the art will allow suchdimensioning. The pressing surface is also formed on one of the rims, inparticular on an outer side thereof.

It may also be provided that the fluid connection element comprises anannular element, provided surrounding the cylindrical rims, and which,on its outer surface, has a connector opening between a radially innersurface and a radially outer surface of the annular element. Afluid-tight arrangement between the cylindrical rims and the annularelement is provided, in such a way that the flute of the fluidconnection element provides for fluid communication between thethroughflow channel of the fluid connection element and the connectoropening of the annular element. This allows for fluid communicationbetween the first end face and the connector opening of the annularelement. If the fluid connection element is now connected to a pipeconnector, then likewise a connection between the pipe connector and theconnector opening of the annular element is provided. At the connectoropening of the annular element, in particular, means are provided whichallow for the connection of further pipes. Thus, by way of example, aninternal thread may be provided, to which a pipe may be directlyconnected or into which a connection element, for example a grommet or aquick-action coupling, may be screwed. It may also, in particular, beprovided that the annular element is provided on the rims in such a waythat it is rotatable in its circumferential direction. Thus, thecircumferential position of the connector provided on the annularelement may be varied. In a further embodiment, the annular element isprovided with a further threaded bore, through which a screw or threadedrod may be screwed, axially securing the annular element within theflute and possibly also fixing it in the circumferential direction.

In a further development of the fluid connection element described, inthe region of the first end face, a thread is provided, the threadedaxis of which extends in the direction of the axial extension of thefluid connection element. The thread serves, in particular, to providethe direct or indirect screw joint of the fluid connection element witha pipe connector. As described above, this screwing takes place from thefront side of a base element of a mounting device of the type described,in such a way that the pressing surface of the fluid connection elementcomes to rest on the front side of the base element, whereby, when thescrew joint is tightened further, the base element is pressed onto asurface where the pipe connector is provided.

A further exemplary embodiment of the fluid connection element ischaracterized in that said thread is formed on the outer surface of thestub. In particular, the first channel is provided centrally in thestub.

As described above, the fluid connection element may be formed in onepiece, integrally, with the stub according to certain exemplaryembodiments, or may include a pressing element and a bolt on which thestub is formed, which are joined in a detachable manner.

The above embodiments of the objects described may, of course, becombined with one another. Further, not specifically disclosedembodiments of the teaching of this document will be apparent to aperson skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The facts presented here will be explained in more detail in thefollowing, using selected exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing.This shows in detail as follows:

FIG. 1 an exemplary embodiment of a sanitary fitting unit using amounting device described here;

FIG. 2 a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a base element of amounting device described here;

FIGS. 3a, b further exemplary embodiments of a base element of amounting device described here;

FIG. 4 an exemplary fluid connection element;

FIG. 5 a sectional view of the fluid connection element of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 an example of the fastening of a base element to a wall, whereina connection socket is used.

Details that are unnecessary for an understanding of the objectsdescribed have been omitted. Furthermore, the drawings show onlyselected exemplary embodiments and may not be taken as a restriction ofthe objects set forth in the claims. Objects not shown may to allintents and purposes be covered by the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a fitting unit 1, having a fitting panel 10 and a mountingdevice, wherein the mounting device includes a base element 20 and afluid connection element 50. The base element 20 has a front side,pointing towards the fitting panel, and an opposing rear side. This rearside has a planar bearing surface, with which the base element may beprovided on a wall or another surface that are not shown. On the fittingpanel 10, a fitting is provided in a manner known per se, in the exampleshown a mounting fixture 11 for a shower head. A fitting connector 12 isalso provided, via which water may be supplied to the shower head. Notshown, for reasons of clarity, but nevertheless easily understandablefor a person skilled in the art, there is a connection between thefitting connector 12 and the fluid connection element 50. This may beprovided for in a similarly known manner by flexible and, in particular,pressure-resistant hoses. The fluid connection element 50 of themounting device includes a hollow-drilled stub 52, in which a channel 51is provided. The drill hole in the stub is connected to a radial drillhole opening into a flute which acts as a fluid distributor in the fluidconnection element. The fluid connection element 50 is explained in moredetail below. On the stub 52, an external thread is provided. By meansof this external thread, the fluid connection element 50 may be screwedinto a pipe connector, not shown. In this way a fluid, for example waterin the shown example of a shower panel, may flow from the pipe connectorinto the fluid connection element 50 and from there, as described above,be passed to the fitting connector 12. By screwing the fluid connectionelement 50 or the stub 52 into a pipe connector, which, by way ofexample, is provided in a wall, a pressing surface 53 of the fluidconnection element comes to rest on the front side of the base element20. When the screw joint between the fluid connection element 50 and thepipe connector is tightened further, a force is exerted on the baseelement, which presses the base element against the wall, not shown, andfixes it there through friction. Even if the wall and the pipe connectorare not shown for reasons of clarity, this will be apparent to a personskilled in the art. Between the wall and the base element, at anotherlocation of the base element, a device may also be provided which isfastened to the wall through adhesion, thus preventing rotation of thefitting unit about the fastening point provided by the fluid connectionelement. This adhesive connection may, by way of example, be provided bya suction pad or by adhesive bonding. As may be seen, in this way, thebase element may be fastened to a wall very simply and without drillingdowel holes. The fitting panel 10 is connected to the base element in asimilarly known manner by means of suitable devices 13 and 14 andcorresponding devices 21 and 22. In this way, the fitting panel is fixedon the wall.

The view of a front side of the base element 20 in FIG. 2 discloses anarrangement of a plurality of through-openings 23 in a row or along astraight line, wherein the orientation of the row or the straight lineruns in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the base element.The through-openings 23 are provided with a center-to-center distance orpitch t. This pitch is constant for all through-openings, which, whilenot necessary, is convenient. Through these through-openings, as shownin FIG. 1, a fastening element, thus for example a stub of a fluidconnection element, may be passed, in order to fasten the base elementto a wall or another surface, as described in connection with FIG. 1.Here, each of the through-openings 23 provides a discrete fasteningposition. The increments of the fastening positions are determined bythe pitch t or, for a predetermined diameter D of the through-openingsshown, by the distance s between opposing edges of the through-openings.This distance s is selected to be significantly smaller than thediameter D. The diameter D is, by way of example, selected in a range of23 to 25 millimeters. The pitch may, by way of example, be 30 mm,resulting in a distance s of approximately 6 mm. The distance s isapproximately a quarter of the diameter of the through-openings. Thesedimensions should, of course, not be deemed limiting; the respectivedimensions, in particular the cross-sectional dimensions of thethrough-openings, may be selected to be convenient for each individualcase and dependent, for example, on the external diameter of the elementto be passed through.

FIGS. 3a and 3b show further exemplary embodiments of the arrangement ofat least one through-opening on a base element of a mounting device ofthe type described, which in each case allow a stub of a fluidconnection element to be passed through the base element at variouspositions on the base element. FIG. 3a shows an embodiment in which asingle slotted hole 24 with a longitudinal axis, running at leastsubstantially in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the baseelement 20, is provided and covers the entire adjusting range. Comparedto the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, this has the advantage that thefastening position may be selected continuously and steplessly along thelongitudinal axis of the slotted hole 24. On the other side, the baseelement is not fixed on a surface until the fastening element istightened with a minimum tightening toque, in such a way that asufficient connection through friction between the base element 20 andthe surface to which it is intended to be fastened is provided. FIG. 3bshows an embodiment which is suitable for fastening a fitting unitrequiring two pipe connectors, for example for hot water and cold water,or for the supply of different gases. Two rows of through-openings 25and 26 are provided. Here, in one row, slotted holes 25 are provided thelongitudinal axes of which are oriented along the orientation of therow, or a straight line, on which the slotted holes 25 are provided. Ina second row of slotted holes 26, these are provided with theirlongitudinal axis transversal and, in particular, substantially at rightangles to the orientation of the row. By means of one of the slottedholes 26, the base element may be fastened to a first pipe connector,wherein an ability of the base element 20 to shift laterally is ensured,so that tolerances in the lateral distance of two pipe connectors may becompensated for. By means of a corresponding slotted hole 25, aconnection with the second pipe connector may then be provided, whereinthe form and arrangement of the slotted holes also allows tolerances inthe position of the pipe connectors in the vertical direction to becompensated for.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the fluid connection element 50.The fluid connection element 50 has a first end face 65 and a second endface 66. Between the end faces 65 and 66, an axial extension of thefluid connection element along a longitudinal axis 57 is defined. On thefirst end face, the fluid connection element includes a stub 52,provided with an external thread 54. From the first end face 65, a firstflow channel, not visible in the present representation, extends axiallythrough the stub and within the fluid connection element. On an axialend of the stub 52, a radial step is formed, including a front face 53,which forms the pressing surface explained in connection with FIG. 1. Onthe fluid connection element, a circumferential flute 56 is alsoarranged. On the base of the flute, a second, radially extending channel55 is provided, connected to the first channel, as explained below inmore detail in connection with FIG. 5. The flute 56 is delimited by twoaxial delimiting walls 58 and 59. Each delimiting wall 58 and 59 isprovided on a cylindrical rim 60 or 61. On each of the rims, a furthercircumferential flute 62 and 63 is provided to accommodate a sealingelement. Tool carriers 64 are also provided on the second end face 66,which serve to screw the external thread 54 to a counterpart, forexample to a thread formed within a connecting pipe within a wall.

FIG. 5 shows the fluid connection element 50 in a section along A-A inFIG. 4, wherein an annular element 70 is also shown, which covers andseals the flute 56. The first channel 51 is realized as an axial blindhole emanating from the first end face 65. A second channel 55 startsfrom the base of the flute 56 and intersects the first channel 51, insuch a way that fluid communication between the first end face 65 andthe flute 56 of the fluid connection element 50 is provided for. Theannular element 70 covers the flute 56 and surrounds the cylindricalrims 60 and 61. O-rings 71 and 72 are inserted in the accommodatingflutes explained in connection with FIG. 4 for accommodating a sealingelement. These provide a fluid-tight arrangement between the annularelement and the rims. On the annular element, a connector opening 73 isprovided, which extends from a radially inner to a radially outer wallof the annular element. The opening 73 is realized as a drill hole withan internal thread. The annular element also includes a second threadedbore, in which a screw 74 is provided. By means of the screw 74, whichprotrudes into the flute 56, the position of the annular element 70 isfixed axially on the rims 60 and 61, and may, if necessary, also befixed in the circumferential direction by screwing the screw further in.Due to the fluid-tight arrangement of the annular element on the rims, afluid, which, by way of example, flows from the end face 65 of the fluidconnection element 50 through the throughflow channel formed by thefirst channel 51 and the second channel 55 into the flute 56, isdistributed in the circumferential flute 56 and is able to flow outthrough the opening 73 of the annular element 70. As is now easilyunderstandable, the circumferential position of the radial bore 55 ispredetermined when the fluid connection element is screwed into acounterpart and tightened during mounting of the mounting device. On theother hand, the annular element 70 on the rims may be brought to asuitable and easily accessible position on the circumference of thefluid connection element for connecting a pipe. Here, by way of example,a hose end may be directly screwed into the thread of the opening 73, ora suitable coupling element for connecting a pipe may be screwed in. Bytightening the screw 74, in particular following the step describedabove, the circumferential position of the annular element may besecured, if required.

The fluid connection element presented here has a one-piece, integralembodiment. As explained above, the fluid connection element may alsoinclude a pressing element and a bolt on which the stub is formed, whichare joined in a detachable manner. The pressing element includes thearea between the pressing surface 53 and the second end face 66 in thiscase. The bolt is, by way of example, screwed into an internal thread ofthe pressing element, and the joint is suitably sealed in such a waythat no fluid leakage can take place from the throughflow channel formedby the channels 51 and 55 via the joint. This embodiment will be readilyappreciated by a person skilled in the art in the light of the presentexplanations, so that an explicit description is omitted.

FIG. 6 explains an exemplary mounting of a base element 20 on a wall 100according to an embodiment of the wall mounting, wherein only half ofthe substantially rotationally symmetrical arrangement is shown. In thewall 100, a wall connector 101 is provided, which is provided with anopen end pointing to an opening in the wall. The wall connector 101 ispredefined onsite. It is, for example, a standard ½″ wall waterconnector, wherein this should not be deemed restrictive. A connectionsocket 40 is screwed into the wall connector 101. The threadedconnection between the internal thread of the wall connector 101 and thecorresponding external thread of the connection socket 40 may be sealedby a suitable sealing material. At this point, hemp is, in particular,used as a sealing material in the normal manner known per se forsanitary installations. The tubular connection socket includes, on itsinner wall, a flute, in which an O-ring 41 is inserted. The connectionsocket also includes an internal thread. A fluid connection element 50of the type described above is screwed into the internal thread andmakes a seal with the connection socket 40 by the O-ring 41. Theinternal thread of the connection socket corresponds with the externalthread of the fluid connection element 50. The fluid connection elementpresented here differs from the design presented in connection withFIGS. 4 and 5 in that the external thread extends over only part of theaxial extension of the stub 52, while a further section of the outersurface of the stub is smooth and is intended for providing afluid-tight configuration with the O-ring 41 of the connection socket.It also differs in that an external hexagon 67 is provided as a seatingfor a tool for screwing in the fluid connection element. In this way, afluid can flow from the wall connector into the channel 51 of the fluidconnection element 50 and from there, via the channel 55, into the fluiddistribution flute 56 sealed by the annular element 70. The fluidconnection element rests with the pressing surface 53 on the baseelement. Between the base element 20 and the wall 100, a spacer plate103 is provided. The spacer plate 103 ensures a defined transfer of theforce with which the base element 20 is pressed against the wall andconnected thereto through friction by the fluid connection elementthrough the through-opening 23 of the base element 20 when thearrangement is tightly screwed in the connection socket. In certaincases, the arrangement of the connection socket allows to simplify themounting of the base element or of the fitting panel on the wall 100,and, in particular, to ensure the tightness of fluid communicationbetween the wall connector 101 and the fluid connection element 50. Thethread of the wall connector is predetermined onsite, and may possiblyshow significant signs of wear. The connection socket 40 includes asuitable thread, wherein thread tolerances caused by possible unevennessin and damage to the thread of the wall connector may be compensated forand sealed off by the abovementioned use of a sealing material. On theother hand, the mating of the threads between the connection socket andthe fluid connection element may be freely and conveniently designed forthe intended use. A seal between the connection socket and the fluidconnection element may then be provided by suitable means, such as forexample the O-ring. Similarly, the connection socket 40 is suitable forcompensating for positional tolerances of the free end of the wallconnector 101 in the wall 100.

Although the object of the present disclosure has been explained usingselected exemplary embodiments, it is not intended that these shouldrestrict the claimed invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   1 Fitting unit    -   10 Fitting panel    -   11 Fitting    -   12 Fitting connector    -   13 Connection device    -   14 Connection device    -   20 Base element    -   21 Connection device    -   22 Connection device    -   23 Through-opening    -   24 Through-opening, slotted hole    -   25 Through-opening, slotted hole    -   26 Through-opening, slotted hole    -   40 Connection socket    -   41 O-ring    -   50 Fluid connection element, fastening element    -   51 Channel    -   52 Stub    -   53 Pressing surface    -   54 External thread    -   55 Channel    -   56 Flute, fluid distribution flute    -   57 Longitudinal axis, direction of axial extension    -   58 Axial delimiting wall    -   59 Axial delimiting wall    -   60 Rim    -   61 Rim    -   62 Flute, sealing flute    -   63 Flute, sealing flute    -   64 Tool carrier    -   65 End face    -   66 End face    -   67 External hexagon    -   70 Annular element    -   71 O-ring    -   72 O-ring    -   73 Connector opening    -   74 Screw    -   100 Wall    -   101 Wall connector predetermined onsite, pipe connector    -   103 Spacer plate    -   D Cross-sectional dimension, diameter    -   s Distance    -   t Pitch, center-to-center distance

That which is claimed is:
 1. A mounting device for a fitting panel,which mounting device comprises: a base element and at least one fluidconnection element; wherein the base element has a front side comprisingmeans for fastening the fitting panel, and a rear side comprising an atleast substantially planar bearing surface; at least one through-openingin the base element and extending from the rear side of the base elementto the front side of the base element, in such a way that a fasteningmeans may be passed through the base element at the at least onethrough-opening; wherein the at least one fluid connection elementcomprises a throughflow channel and a pressing surface, wherein thethroughflow channel intersects a plane of the pressing surface andwherein the pressing surface is dimensioned such that at least itsmaximum entire cross-sectional extension is greater than at least onecross-sectional extension of the through-opening; wherein the at leastone fluid connection element comprises a stub extending from the planeof the pressing surface, and the throughflow channel extends through thestub; and wherein the at least one through-opening is configured andprovided such that the stub may be passed, as a fastening means, throughthe base element at at least two different positions on the baseelement.
 2. The mounting device according to claim 1, further comprisingan external thread formed on the stub.
 3. The mounting device accordingto claim 1, wherein the at least one through-opening comprises a slottedhole.
 4. The mounting device according to claim 3, wherein the slottedhole has a longitudinal axis which runs in the direction of alongitudinal extension of the base element.
 5. The mounting deviceaccording to claim 3, further comprising: a second slotted hole with alongitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes of the two slotted holes beingparallel.
 6. The mounting device according to claim 1, wherein: the atleast one through-opening comprises at least two individualthrough-openings arranged in a row; and the distance between the atleast two through-openings, measured between opposing edges of twoadjacent openings, is less than five times a cross-sectional dimension(D) of a through-opening measured at right angles to the orientation ofsaid row.
 7. The mounting device according to claim 6, wherein the rowextends along a transversal extension or a longitudinal extension of thebase element.
 8. The mounting device according to claim 6, comprising atleast two parallel rows of openings.
 9. The mounting device according toclaim 8, comprising at least one row of slotted holes, the longitudinalaxes of which run at least approximately at right angles or parallel tothe orientation of the row.
 10. A fitting unit, comprising: a mountingdevice according to claim 1; and a fitting panel comprising means forattaching the fitting panel to corresponding means of the baseplate ofthe mounting device, and at least one fitting having a fluid connector;and flexible pipes for connecting the fluid connector of the fitting toa fluid connector provided on a fluid connection element.
 11. A fluidconnection element for a mounting device comprising: a pressing surfaceand a throughflow channel; a first end face and a second end facebetween which an axial extension is defined; a first channel runningfrom the first end face in the direction of the axial extension withinthe fluid connection element; a flute on an outer side of the fluidconnection element running transversally to the axial extension anddelimited by two axial delimiting walls; a second channel extending fromthe flute into the fluid connection element, the second channel being influid communication with the first channel within the fluid connectionelement in such a way that the first channel and the second channeltogether form the throughflow channel; a stub extending from the firstend face towards the second end face, wherein the first channel extendsthrough the stub, the stub including a cross-sectional expansion at anaxial end of the stub and towards the second end face, whereby a radialstep with an end face is formed, wherein said end face formed by theradial step forms said pressing surface.
 12. The fluid connectionelement according to claim 11, comprising: cylindrical rims delimitingthe axial delimiting walls; and an annular element surrounding thecylindrical rims and which, on an outer thereof surface, comprises aconnection opening between a radially inner surface and a radially outersurface of the annular element, wherein a fluid-tight arrangementbetween the cylindrical rims and the annular element is provided in sucha way that the flute provides for fluid communication between thethroughflow channel of the fluid connection element and the connectionopening of the annular element.
 13. The fluid connection elementaccording to claim 11, further comprising a thread formed on the outersurface of the stub.
 14. A method for mounting a fitting unit accordingto claim 9 on a surface, the method comprising: selecting a desiredposition of a fitting; determining the position of a pipe connector onthe surface; based on the distance between said positions, determining arequired fastening position that the pipe connector must have on thebase element so that the fitting achieves the desired position; placingthe base element, by its rear side, on the surface, in such a way thatthe pipe connector coincides with a through-opening of the base elementat the required fastening position; and connecting, in particularscrewing, the fluid connection element to the pipe connector from thefront side of the base element.